2 ordinary folks sharing their faith in Jesus Christ.

Tag: heroin

What I am about to share may upset some people, shock some people, and may set some people free!

We are going to be seeing addiction in a completely different light very soon.

There are many people who have not considered themselves or their family members as addicts because they have been taking prescription drugs for a long time under the care of their doctor. But, as time goes on and the use of these drugs continues, it is going to become unavoidable to see things for what they are.

These drugs destroy lives. They destroy families. They destroy identities and careers and dreams.

I am mainly talking about all of the opiate and synthetic opioid drugs. But, I am also talking about anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications and even those drugs which are prescribed as stimulants – that are given to kids diagnosed with ADD & ADHD – because I know so many people who were prescribed opioids and as part of their pain treatment were also prescribed all of these other drugs, as well.

I am also talking about calling out the drug companies and the doctors who prescribe these drugs. I am talking about the law-makers and the overseers who did not do their jobs and allowed this epidemic to fester and cause so much harm to so many! I am also talking about we the people who have trusted our doctors and our government to the point that we have allowed millions to become enslaved and destroyed while we have turned judgmental and blind eyes to the damage.

When I say that very soon we are going to see just how far this problem goes, you can mark my words. Families have been hurting in silence. Shame has kept many from speaking out. Shame has kept mothers and fathers from exposing the needs of their children. Shame has kept many who knew they needed help from asking for it. Lots of people have kept on going in their addiction for shame of being found out and seeming weak or abnormal or outright bad. Denial has become a powerful tool to many people who don’t want to face the pain of the truth. Shame and denial have become powerful tools for death and destruction because they keep people from getting help!

I say no more!!! Tell your stories! Tell the truth!

Let me start. I have family members who were injured in some way at a young age. In their 20’s and early 30’s they were each pronounced with a need for pain management. They were told that they would experience long-term pain for injuries sustained and for genetic issues, as well – such as spinal deterioration… So, they were prescribed Lortab and/or Percocet in the beginning. As time went on their prescriptions grew to include Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin, Adderall, Prozac, Vicodin, Suboxone, and much more… (forgive sp?) Now, 15 or so years later, here we are and they have lost everything! Their homes, cars, jobs, children, marriages…. everything!

Why? Because you cannot take these drugs long-term like that and not need higher and higher doses to sustain the same effect. Also, they affect the way you think and carry out your life. They change the chemistry of your brain. They enslave you before you know it and when someone decides to cut off your supply – you do anything to keep getting it. That is the truth. There may be a few who have just walked away from these drugs without help – but I dare say it would be very few. I have been in the hospital on the psychiatric floor and met patients in there to detox from these drugs because they need the professional help to do it. These patients are male and female, they are white and black and all races, they are professionals and blue-collar workers, they are stay at home moms and doctors! These drugs do not care what degree you have, how long you have gone to church, where you work, what color you are, or if you are rich. They destroy. Period.

With my own struggles with depression and bipolar disorder, I took many prescription drugs at one point in my life. Thankfully, I never got prescribed opioids more than 7 days at a time. Because I love how they make me feel. I can see how easily it would be to take these drugs and use them to do more and be more active. They did give me a euphoric feeling that made me more talkative and energetic and I felt like I could clean the whole house in an hour or talk to anyone on the planet about anything. And I could tell when I stopped taking them that I was missing them not only for the physical withdrawal symptoms that quickly set in, but also for how good they made me feel.

This specific class of drugs has not been my addiction and I am thankful for it. But I have had addictions and do know what that is like. I also have family members that I dearly love that this has happened to and I miss them. I love them and pray for the day that they recover and heal and are set free. I pray for the day they have their families back and they see total restoration in every area of their lives.

That is why I am going to shout the truth in love as loudly as I can. Let he who has an ear, hear….

I came across this article in my newsfeed on Facebook and I am going to share a link to it for you. It is by Ashley Welch on CBS News online: “Drug overdoses killed more Americans last year than the Vietnam War.” Can you wrap your head around the fact that so many have already DIED from OVERDOSES in one year? Can you understand that is just the tip of the iceberg if we do not share the truth in love with others? Because I promise you there are thousands more people out there who have not admitted they are addicted or are in denial of the fact. There are many more who are headed to homelessness, joblessness, loss of family, jail, institutions, and death! All because they have believed the lies of our doctors and pharmaceutical companies and are too ashamed to come out and say they need help.

This is not meant to be exhaustive of what I know and have to say about this issue at all. Stay tuned for more and feel free to share, comment, and add!!!